About Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple :-
Kanchipuram is popularly known as Mumurtivasam (abode of trio), while Srirangam is referred to as ‘ The Koil’ (meaning: “temple”) and Tirupathi as the ‘Malai’ (Meaning: “hill”). Among the Divya Desams, Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal temple is known as the ‘Perumal Koil’. This is one of the most sacred places for Vaishnavites.
As per Hindu legend,Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, separated with his wifeSaraswathiover a misunderstanding. He did a Aswameda worship (with a horse) seeking boons from Vishnu. Vishnu was pleased by the devotion and came out from under the earth as a boar and got Saraswathi unite with Brahma. As per another legend, Saraswathi cursed the king of celestial deities, Indra, to become an elephant and roam around the place. He was relived off the curse with the divine power of Vishnu, who appeared as the mount, Hastagiri. Attagiri indicates a mount in the form of elephant. As per another legend, the disciples of sage Gautama were cursed to become lizards. They resided in the temple and were relieved off the curse by the divine grace of Vishnu. There is a panel in the temple where the two lizards are depicted in the roof of the temple.
Thirukkachi Nambigal(Also known as Kanchi Purnar) was an ardent devotee of this temple. He used to bring flowers everyday from Poovirundhavalli, where he maintained a garden. He did Aalavatta Kaingariyam, waving to produce breeze with the help of hand fan. It is believed that Vardharaja used to converse with him, while he was doing that seva. Aalavatta Kaingariyam is a worship practise followed in modern times also.
Nambi also composed Devarajaashtakam(A Sanskrit poem of 8 verses) on the presiding deity. Sri Ramanujar, another great Vaishnavite, got answers to his six questions from Lord Varadharaja through Sri Thirukkachi Nambigal.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple or Hastagiri or Attiyuran is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in the holy city of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu believed to have been visited by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.[1] It is located in a suburb of Kanchipuram known as the Vishnu Kanchi that is a home for many famous Vishnu temples. One of the greatest Hindu scholars of Vaishnava VisishtAdvaita philosophy, Ramanuja is believed to have resided in this temple.
Thirukachi or Athigiri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram:
The original deity of Lord Varadaraja (Atti Varadar), who is said to have been installed by Lord Brahma himself, is in a silver casket inside the temple tank. The deity of Lord Atthi Varadar made of Atthi wood, is consecrated in the four-pillared mandapam inside the Ananda Saras.
Moolavar
The Moolavar informed the priest in his dream that He could not bear the heat as the idol came out of Yagna fire. The lord told the priest to do abhisekam in hundreds measures of water vessel or to keep inside water. He said that the moolavr at a place called ‘Palaya Seevaram’, about 20kms from Kanchipuram could be replaced.
Also it was instructed to take out the Atthigiri Varadar once in 40 years and worship for 48 days (10 days?).
Thus the deity is taken out of the water once in 40 years and placed for darshan for 48 days (10 days ?) before it is again put into the water. The last time the Lord gave darshan was in 1979.
